TRAFFORD, Pa. - On Tuesday, the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released the preseason poll for women's soccer and players to watch. The Cougars were picked to finish seventh in the conference.

The Cougars were picked to finish seventh out of the 12 teams in the PAC after having received a total of 56 points in the poll. They have won 4 conference games in the last two seasons, finishing seventh in the PAC in 2024 with a 3-5-2 conference record and 8-9-2 overall. They look to continue to further improve their record and finish near the top this season as there was minimal roster turnover from last year. 

Three Cougars made the PAC Players to Watch list this year. They are midfielder Halle Marsalis, forward Ainsley Smith, and defender/midfielder Sarah Vescio. Smith was a 2024 Second Team All-PAC player while Marsalis and Vescio were Honorable Mention All-PAC last year as well. 

Smith enters her senior season as a Cougar after finishing last season as the leader in goals (7), assists (3), points (17), and shots on goal (40). She has previously been named an All-PAC performer one other time in 2022 (Honorable Mention). 

Marsalis, also entering her senior season as a Cougar, is coming off her best statistical season with the Cougars where she recorded the most minutes played (1,512). She then finished the season right behind Smith in goals (3), assists (2), and points (8). She has previously been named an All-PAC performer one other time in 2022 (Honorable Mention). 

Vescio, entering her second season with the Cougars, looks to add on to her career statistics this season. She played, and started, in all 19 games last season recording 1 goal out of the 3 shots on goal she had. 

The Cougars start their season on Saturday August 30th at 1 PM when they travel to Alfred, N.Y. for a matchup with the Alfred University Saxons.